Addiction

By Jesse Dallery

The Addiction SIG was founded to expand training, research, and employment opportunities for behavior analysts. The SIG provides a forum for all persons who have an interest in studying and applying behavior analysis to understand, prevent, and treat addiction. This may include addiction to drugs and other commodities (e.g., alcohol, nicotine, stimulants, opioids, internet, smartphones, food, gambling) and associated psychosocial problems (e.g., psychiatric comorbidities, unemployment, poverty).

In the past year, the Addiction SIG focused on maintaining the necessary infrastructure to support SIG activities. We conducted SIG leadership meetings. We also expanded our digital presence from Facebook to include Instagram and Twitter. Our current membership consists of 148 members, with approximately 3-6 new members each month. The focus at the business meeting last year was to provide an overview of the SIG’s mission, increase SIG membership, and encourage feedback on ongoing and future activities of the SIG.

In the coming year, the Addiction SIG will continue to focus on several goals. The SIG will: (1) serve as a professional and scientific networking group for its members; (2) focus on growing its presence and interaction on social media; (3) continue to recruit new members; (4) promote submission of addiction-related symposia, panel sessions, posters, and papers for ABAI and highlight upcoming relevant presentations; and (5) expand the resources available to its members. In sum, the SIG aims to pursue several activities that will make membership in the Addiction SIG as beneficial as possible.

Membership in the Addiction SIG is open to all individuals who are interested in the SIG’s aim, mission, or objectives. The SIG’s members need not be members of ABAI. Membership is currently free. If you would like to become a member, please join via our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/AddictionSIG